…a JoUrNeY wOrTh ReMeMbErInG

I always kept reminding myself, life is a journey. We are all pilgrims towards our future, and that we often meet some heartaches and problems as we go along. But we should always bear in mind the quotation that goes, “Beyond the hills of difficulties lies the valleys of success.” I always remind myself of that especially when facing hardships along the way.

As I added colorful pages to my life, I always make it a point that they are worth remembering. Just like my travel towards here. I couldn’t imagine how hard it was for us, we were two. I couldn’t even believe we made it.

From Cebu, Philippines, we took a plane directly to Hongkong. I felt perfectly great ‘coz t’was my first international flight, and at the same time, my first board on a plane. I was kinda scared yet excited. It took us almost three hours to reach Hongkong International Airport. I was really astonished for it is very huge. In fact, it’s one of the world’s largest international airport. Additional, it was voted by air travellers and it won the first place in the 2007 world best airport survey. We arrived there 30 minutes after midnight. We just roamed around the airport and stayed in the passenger lounge and waited for the morning. At 5:00 am, we started moving out.

What we had that time was just a print out instructions from our agent. So we tried asking around. Good that there are a lot that can speak English in Hongkong. We rode tram 13 from airport to the subway station. T’was pretty tough ‘coz we were bringing our luggage in a busy morning and we didn’t know how to purchase a ticket or use the electronic machine. There were a lot of people going to work and to school. We just paused for few minutes and observed as if we were resting. Then, we’ve learned how. Successfully, we did. From subway, we changed another train to Shenzhen.

We were really tired as we arrived in Shenzhen. After around 30 minutes, the agent’s men arrived and picked us up. They showed us to the train station and bought tickets for us to Jinan, where our agent is waiting. Shenzhen is a big and beautiful city. But we didn’t have time to roam around ‘coz of our luggage. We bought a lot of food like instant noodles, bread and cookies for it is close to 24 hours travel by train, as they said. It really is. We did nothing while we were on the train, just peeping through the windows, watching the beauty of nature, remembering our families back home, sleep, for t’was really a very long journey, almost 20 hours. Kinda tiresome and boring. We had no choice.

We arrived in Liaocheng and another guy met us at the train station there and we proceeded to the bus station for it’s still 2 hours away. Really exhausting! Then we arrived and met our agent. At long last, we were able to arrive at our destination and eat rice for we didn't have one for more than two days. We ate lunch together at around 3:00 pm.

We just stayed for around three days in Jinan, Shandong province. Then, we moved to our schools in another province, meaning, we had to travel around 9 hours by bus again. Terrible! I said at that time, we just kept traveling around China. But it’s just somewhat nothing for the entire China. After, we parted ways for we are in different schools. We met our respective bosses. Finally, our work life here started. We are in Hefei, Anhui Province, China, our final stop. Thanks for the safe travel. See you here!

…cOnFiDeNt AnD sMaRt

How confident and smart are you? Are you not afraid to face people? Will you be able to think better under pressure? How are we going to rate one’s confidence and intelligence? How to test them?

As I continued my second day of the speech training, this time pure primary students. I was totally amazed by the confidence and intelligence of my students. They are somehow pretty ready to face regional speech competition. I let them recite their own speeches in front and I made some corrections and give additional advice, as what I am supposed to do. I did enjoy with their own way of delivering their speeches. They are still very young but very smart and confident. As I was at their age, I couldn’t make it, I thought.

Based on the activities that would take place on the regional battle, they would be given pictures and make a story out from them in few minutes. T’was also what I did. As young as they are, I couldn’t imagine they were able to make a marvelous stories under pressure. I gave them four pictures each and they have to choose two and make a story to each picture in five minutes. They had to share them in front after. They made it! They were able to share all their various stories. I could see great leaders in the future in them. So smart! Keep it up guys! Be prepared and be confident. Trust yourselves, I told them as I ended up the session.

…LeT iT gO

Why is it hard to let go someone who is so dear to you? Why is it painful to do so? Why is it hard to accept it where in fact it’s a reality of life? Have you encountered some? What did you do?

Since we are just travelers here in this life, people just come and go. Others stay with you for a while, then go. Some stay for quite a long time, but eventually go. Still some stay seemly forever, yet finally they go. Others don’t even stay, they just pass by. It might be hard to accept it but let’s face it. It’s life’s reality. We have to learn to let go and move on. We can’t hold on to everything, since we are just passing by.

What should we do, then? We should always treasure and harness the time that we are still together with them. Make it remarkable at all times. Say sorry to those you wronged, thank you to those who had done great things to your life, I love you to those you truly love and care, to your family and friends. Let them feel it. It’s not too late yet. You might not have another chance to do it. Don’t be so timid, don’t be afraid to do it. Just do it. That’s why I really do. To my Mama, Papa, my only sister, my brothers, all my relatives and friends, and all those who in one way or another have been a part of my life, I say sorry, thank you and I love you all. I wish you the best. God bless us all.